Two rules to know about the Affordable Care Act

In 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a rule to implement Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which prohibits discrimination in health coverage and care based on race, color, national origin, age, disability and sex (including gender identity and sex stereotypes). It also sets provisions about enhanced language assistance for people with limited English proficiency (LEP), and aims to educate consumers about their rights.

To comply with the rule, Yale New Haven Health System is required to take reasonable steps to provide meaningful access, at no charge to the individual, to those with limited English proficiency, who may require assistance. This includes posting notices which inform LEP individuals, as well as those who are deaf or hard of hearing, about the communication assistance. Not discriminating means we must be accessible to people with disabilities, which may include those with wheelchairs, service animals and communications disorders, among other things.

A "YNHHS Language Assistance Statement" has been posted on our websites and distributed within the health system and should be posted in areas that are visible to patients and visitors. It includes taglines in 19 different languages about the availability of language assistance at YNHHS. Patients and visitors can point to their preferred language on this form and request help from staff. Additional copies of the YNHHS Language Assistance Statement are available through WorkFlow One/Taylor Communications, using form number T1067.

Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act also requires Yale New Haven Health to publicly post its non-discrimination statement. This statement, produced in the top three most commonly used languages for each delivery network, has been posted on the websites, in public areas and major publications, and is available by request through Patient Relations.

Questions about the Language Assistance Statement and nondiscrimination policy notices should be directed to Lauren Mallozzi, YNHH patient relations manager, at 203-688-3742 or [email protected].